2-Year-Old Killed in Rollover Near Sheridan

A single vehicle rollover crash north of Sheridan, Wyoming on Tuesday has resulted in the death of a two year old child. The male child has been identified as Ja' Kodda R. Wegner from Sheridan. The crash happened at 12:05 a.m. on the 24th on Interstate 90 eastbound approximately three miles north of Sheridan.

Ja' Kodda Wegner was a passenger in a small SUV driven by 23 year old Sheridan resident Alyssa Wegner. The truck was overcorrected after running off the left side of the interstate. During the overcorrection, the SUV entered a spin, tripped and rolled in the median. It came to rest in the westbound lanes of I-90.

Ja' Kodda Wegner was seated in an improperly installed child seat and was thrown from the vehicle during the crash. He was taken to Sheridan Memorial Hospital where he later died.

Alyssa Wegner was not wearing her seat belt and was ejected during the crash. She was taken by helicopter to St. Vincent Hospital in Billings, Montana and has been hospitalized.

Kaylla Washburn, 23 years old, Xaiden Wegner, 8 months old, and Emma Pritchett, 1 month old, were all passengers in the Jeep and were properly seated in their seat belt and child seats. The three Sheridan residents were all taken to Sheridan Memorial Hospital. Kaylla Washburn and Xaiden Wegner have been hospitalized. Emma Pritchett has been treated and released.

The crash did cause a temporary closure of I-90 with traffic being detoured around the crash scene. Driver fatigue is being investigated as the contributing factor in the crash. Improper securing of the child seat is being investigated as the primary reason for the fatality. This crash marked the 138th highway fatality in Wyoming for 2015 compared to 140 fatalities during this same reporting period in 2014.